New Scientist - Home

We may have seen a 'dirty fireball' star explosion for the first time Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:00:47 +0100 An incredibly powerful flash of X-rays spotted by the Einstein Probe telescope appears to be a kind of explosion first theorised more than 30 years ago

The profound effect the heart-brain connection has on your health Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:00:47 +0100 Cognitive decline, mental health and heart disease are all shaped by the deep links between heart and brain – with major implications for diagnoses and treatment

How worried should you be about an AI apocalypse? Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:00:55 +0100 Fears that artificial intelligence could rise up to wipe out humanity are understandable given our steady diet of sci-fi stories depicting just that, but what is the real risk? Matthew Sparkes looks at what the experts say

New Scientist recommends the engaging Native Nations by Kathleen DuVal Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:11 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Multipurpose anti-viral pill may treat colds, norovirus, flu and covid Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:52 +0100 AI predicted that a forgotten breast cancer drug could be repurposed to treat many respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, and subsequent animal tests suggests it may be right

How a DIY worm farm can compost food scraps, paper or a whole kangaroo Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:12 +0100 For those who want a little help composting, take a cue from James Woodford’s experience raising worms – both the small colony of wrigglers he keeps in a sensible bin in his city garden and the dumpster-sized worm farm he has that can turn even animal carcasses into nutrient-dense soil

Surprise fossil discoveries push back the evolution of complex animals Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:00:36 +0100 A fossil bed in China containing animals up to 554 million years old suggests that we may have to reconsider the idea that life suddenly diversified during the Cambrian explosion

Bumblebees surprise scientists by showing a sense of rhythm Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:00:06 +0100 Recognising rhythmic patterns was thought to require a big brain, but a series of experiments has shown that buff-tailed bumblebees have this ability, too

Unprecedented insight into memory champion's brain reveals his tricks Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:00:12 +0100 Nelson Dellis credits techniques like the method of loci for his extraordinary memory. Now, brain scans have revealed the parts of his brain that this approach taps into, and how we can use it to improve our own recall

We may have just glimpsed the universe's first stars Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:25:22 +0100 A galaxy spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope, known as Hebe, that existed just 400 million years after the big bang appears to contain extremely pure and young stars

I have been bitten by more than 200 snakes – on purpose Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:00:38 +0100 If you are unlucky enough to have been bitten by a snake, you are unlikely to want to repeat the experience. Not so for Tim Friede, who intentionally exposes himself to deadly bites in the hope of developing a treatment for the 5 million people who are bitten each year

What to read this week: Lixing Sun's ambitious On the Origin of Sex Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:37 +0100 Ducks with corkscrew penises, fish changing sex – what do we really know about sex and reproduction on Earth? Less than we think, reveals a mind-boggling new book. Elle Hunt explores

Historic Artemis II launch sends astronauts bound for the moon Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:00:26 +0100 Four astronauts have begun a 10-day journey around the moon and back again, the first crewed flight to the moon since 1972

Tobacco plant altered to produce five psychedelic drugs Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:00:03 +0100 Genetically engineering tobacco plants could enable a more sustainable production method for psychedelic drugs, which are increasingly in demand for research and medical uses

Plug-in solar is coming – how dangerous is it and is it worth it? Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:00:28 +0100 Plug-in solar panels are a cheaper, simpler alternative to professionally installed panels. But can they really reduce energy bills and are they safe? Matthew Sparkes investigates

The first quantum computer to break encryption is now shockingly close Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:32:09 +0100 Traditional encryption methods have long been vulnerable to quantum computers, but two new analyses suggest a capable enough machine may be built much sooner than previously thought

Male octopuses have a favourite arm that they mostly use for sex Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:55 +0100 The third right arm of male octopuses has a specialised role in mating, and the creatures take extra care to avoid damaging it or losing it to a predator

The best new popular science books of April 2026 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:36 +0100 April has a lot to offer when it comes to popular science reading, promising to help us do everything from future-proof our brains courtesy of Hannah Critchlow, to get to grips with really big numbers, thanks to Richard Elwes

Virus from marine animals is causing weird eye problems in people Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:00:38 +0100 A virus seems to have jumped from marine animals into people for the first time ever, and it is causing serious vision problems

Historians dispute link between drought and rebellion in Roman Britain Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:34:35 +0100 A study based on tree rings claimed that droughts played a role in events that led to the Roman withdrawal from Britain, but other researchers say that isn't backed up by historical evidence

Attacks from our immune system are a cause of long covid Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:00:13 +0100 The immune system going rogue and attacking healthy tissue seems to behind some cases of long covid, a discovery that could open doors towards treatments

The best new science-fiction books of April 2026 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:00:21 +0100 A collection of stories set in George R. R. Martin’s Wild Cards universe and a novel from The Expanse author James S. A. Corey are among the science-fiction books we’re looking forward to this month

New fibre-optic record allows 50,000,000 movies to be streamed at once Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:00:01 +0100 Improved hardware can send ten times as much data through existing fibre-optic cables, potentially providing a way to massively upgrade the internet's infrastructure without the cost and inconvenience of laying any new cables

The Shroud of Turin bears DNA from many people, plants and animals Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:00:34 +0100 Researchers have identified genetic material from a vast range of organisms contaminating the shroud, said to have wrapped Jesus's body, further complicating the question of the cloth's true origin

Food shock is inevitable due to the Iran war – and it could get bad Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:14:53 +0100 Even if the conflict in the Middle East ends today, higher fuel, fertiliser and pesticide prices will lead to a food shock in the coming months. There is no easy way out, but accelerating the net-zero transition will help prevent future shocks

The best kind of olive oil for brain health Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:07 +0100 The science suggests that olive oil can help us fight cognitive decline and even Alzheimer’s. Columnist Helen Thomson finds that only works if we choose the right kind

The weird physics of plant-based milks is only just coming to light Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:39 +0100 Experiments on different kinds of milk have revealed that many plant-based milks are non-Newtonian fluids

Why the lack of water on Mars is so mysterious Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:04 +0100 An accounting of all the water that should have been and gone on Mars’s surface has come up with a discrepancy that shows just how little we understand the Red Planet’s hydrological history

How working out like an astronaut can reduce back pain and slow ageing Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:00:33 +0000 The same principles that help astronauts stay strong in microgravity can help us all resist the slow collapse of ageing – and it’s not all about hitting the gym more

The shocking fossils that show T. rex wasn't the king of the dinosaurs Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:00:41 +0000 We've always thought that Tyrannosaurus rex was an unchallenged apex predator during the dying days of the dinosaurs. But a fresh look at controversial fossils has prompted palaeontology’s biggest-ever U-turn

The simple questions cracking the hard problem of consciousness Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:00:19 +0000 Do we all see the same red? Or feel joy and sadness alike? Mapping how our inner experiences relate to one another could finally reveal how physical processes in the brain give rise to consciousness

Surprising male G-spot found in most detailed study of the penis yet Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:28 +0000 A long-overlooked area of the penis has been found to have the highest concentration of nerve endings and sensory structures in the organ, suggesting that it is the “male G-spot”

I almost drowned in space when my helmet filled with water Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:00:21 +0000 During his second-ever spacewalk, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano felt water creeping across his face – and knew he could be moments from drowning inside his helmet

How Anthony Leggett pushed the boundaries of quantum physics Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:30 +0000 After the passing of physicist Anthony Leggett, columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan remembers their personal connection with this giant of quantum physics, and explores the legacy of his enduring recipe for testing the edges of the quantum world

We could protect Earth from dangerous asteroids using a huge magnet Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:00:55 +0000 A new spacecraft concept called NOVA could keep asteroids from hitting our planet by using a huge magnet to gradually pull them apart while shifting their trajectories

AI data centres can warm surrounding areas by up to 9.1°C Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:00:21 +0000 Hundreds of millions of people live close enough to data centres used to power AI to feel warmer average temperatures in their local area

Author of Red Mars calls 'bullshit' on emigrating to the planet Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:20:54 +0000 Kim Stanley Robinson opens his classic science fiction novel Red Mars in 2026. As the New Scientist Book Club embarks on reading it in April, he looks back on its origins – and how the idea of moving to Mars holds up today

Why Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars is still a classic, 34 years on Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:15:38 +0000 As the New Scientist Book Club reads Kim Stanley Robinson’s science-fiction novel in April, George Bass digs into why this 1992 book still feels so relevant today

Read an extract from Kim Stanley Robinson's sci-fi classic Red Mars Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:15:20 +0000 This is the opening of Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, the New Scientist Book Club read for April, as humans come to the planet to settle it

New Scientist recommends documentary Molly vs The Machines Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Rare Andean bear captured in stunning photograph Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, this image by photographer Sebastian Di Domenico was taken in Colombia

First glimpse of sperm whale birth reveals teamwork to support newborn Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:00:42 +0000 A female sperm whale has been filmed giving birth for the first time, supported by 10 adult females who lifted the calf out of the water and protected it from predators

Fossils discovered in Egypt may be the closest ancestor of all apes Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:00:12 +0000 Pieces of jawbone and teeth found in Egypt have been identified as a new early ape species named Masripithecus moghraensis, which lived about 17 million years ago

Computer finds flaw in major physics paper for first time Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:56:44 +0000 A computer language designed to robustly verify mathematical theorems and expose logical flaws has been turned towards a physics paper – and spotted an error. The discovery raises questions about how many other papers may harbour similar issues

A variety of jungle animals all use one type of tree as a latrine Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:58 +0000 In the cloud forest of Costa Rica, many canopy-dwelling animals do their business in strangler fig trees, perhaps as a way of leaving messages

The Selfish Gene: Still one of the most thrilling evolution books ever Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:00:01 +0000 Fifty years ago, Richard Dawkins shared an irresistible scientific metaphor with the world that modernised and democratised evolutionary biology. Half a century on, The Selfish Gene remains powerfully insightful, finds Rowan Hooper

Temperature gets a new definition using a quantum device Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:24 +0000 A device that relies on quantum effects and oversized atoms may be a more reliable way to measure temperature that doesn't require calibration

What to read this week: the persuasive How Flowers Made Our World Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 We shouldn't dismiss flowers as merely ornamental – these blooms are world-changers, argues a vivid new book by David George Haskell. Michael Marshall is mostly convinced

How big is a 'shedload'? Let's ask the nuclear physicists Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Feedback is prompted by readers to investigate the size of the shed in the term 'shedload', and gets down and dirty with particle physics in the quest

Meta and YouTube fined $3 million for harming mental health Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:52:03 +0000 In a landmark trial, social media giants Meta and YouTube were found negligent and ordered to pay for harming a user's mental health. The decision could force major changes in how social platforms work

The brain's cleaning system can be boosted to rid Alzheimer's proteins Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:00:53 +0000 A duo of drugs that boosts our glymphatic system, which clears waste from our brain, also improves the removal of proteins associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease

Oldest known dog extends the genetic history of our canine companions Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:00:53 +0000 The remains of dogs from more than 14,000 years ago have been found in Turkey and the UK, revealing that domesticated animals were spread across Europe by hunter-gatherers

Landmark experiment reveals a big unexpected problem with cloning Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:44:47 +0000 A 20-year study has shown that, like photocopying photocopies, cloning doesn't produce perfect copies – with big implications for farming, conservation and de-extinction

Ancient bones reveal vivid details of a Neanderthal elephant hunt Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:54:28 +0000 Researchers have re-analysed a set of elephant bones and a wooden spear found in Germany in 1948, which provide compelling evidence of Neanderthals' big game hunting abilities

Want to live forever? There are major questions to confront, first Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:53:42 +0000 A start-up has worked out how to preserve the brain after death – paving the way for immortality in a distant future. But beginning to reckon with this reality yields serious practical and philosophical questions

Cancer-causing chemical found to be leaking from gas cookers Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:26 +0000 One in 10 homes tested in the UK, Italy and the Netherlands have dangerous levels of benzene because of slow leaks from gas hobs and ovens

Earth may have formed from two separate rings around the sun Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:35 +0000 Our solar system’s rocky planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars – may have formed from two rings around the young sun, rather than a single disc

Cystitis or tooth decay could trigger dementia just a few years later Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:24 +0000 Infections are increasingly being linked to a higher risk of dementia. In the latest research, scientists have found that being treated in hospital for a severe infection seems to raise the risk of developing the condition over the next five to six years

Antimatter has been transported by road for the first time Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:30:12 +0000 CERN is working on building an antimatter delivery service. The project passed a big test by successfully transporting 92 antiprotons around a 4-kilometre loop of road

How AI shook the world's largest meeting of physicists Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:00:47 +0000 Physicists are grappling with how the increasing presence of AI will change the nature of their profession

Adrian Tchaikovsky: 'I try and do interesting aliens' Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:00:55 +0000 As the science fiction author publishes the latest novel in his Children of Time series, Children of Strife, he talks to Alison Flood about mantis shrimp, the pleasures of sci-fi and why empathy is so important in his writing

Are humans degenerating genetically and getting dumber as a result? Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:33 +0000 Are we evolving to be more stupid? Humans have a relatively high genetic mutation rate, which has been thought to be driving down our physical and mental fitness – but columnist Michael Le Page finds these mutations aren’t the health risk some make them out to be

Genetic clues tell the story of Neanderthals' decline Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:00:32 +0000 The Neanderthal population shrank during a cold spell around 75,000 years ago, and the loss of genetic diversity may have contributed to their eventual extinction

Warmer ocean is driving the Antarctic sea ice 'regime shift' Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:00:22 +0000 Since 2016, Antarctic sea ice extent has been declining sharply – now scientists are piecing together how strong winds and warm deep water have played a part in this abrupt transition

Mysterious comet disintegration caught by telescope after lucky break Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:04:25 +0000 Catching a comet in the process of falling apart is difficult, but a coincidence let astronomers see one in more detail than ever before using the Hubble Space Telescope – and revealed a mystery

'Zombie' cells created by transplanting genomes into dead bacteria Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:47:41 +0000 Researchers have created the first living synthetic bacterium made from non-living parts by killing a bacterial cell and then transplanting the genome of another species into it, blurring the boundary between life and death

Security credentials inadvertently leaked on thousands of websites Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:00:22 +0000 Researchers identified nearly 10,000 websites where API keys could be found, exposing details that could let attackers access sensitive information

Inside the world’s first antimatter delivery service Sat, 21 Mar 2026 06:00:05 +0000 On Tuesday, CERN will transport antiprotons on a truck for the first time, testing the plan to deliver antimatter by road to research labs across Europe

This neuroscientist says some psychopaths wish they were nicer Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:00:08 +0000 Abigail Marsh has found that many psychopaths don’t want to be cruel and uncaring, and argues that they deserve support to help them get there

A very serious guide to buying your own humanoid robot butler Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:00:48 +0000 You can now buy a humanoid robot housekeeper for less than the price of a second-hand car. But before splashing out, there’s something you need to know

You can now buy a DIY quantum computer Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:00:45 +0000 Qilimanjaro is selling a relatively cheap kit with everything you need for a quantum computer – you just need to be able to put it together

What to read this week: Katrina Manson's terrifying Project Maven Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 It is scarily fascinating to read about the US military's journey into AI warfare in this deeply-researched book. But what happens next, asks Matthew Sparkes

Forget the multiverse. In the pluriverse, we create reality together Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:00:20 +0000 A radical idea that resolves many quantum paradoxes suggests there is no objective view of reality. How can the cosmos be stitched together from interlocking perspectives?

We’ve spotted a huge asteroid spinning impossibly fast Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:00:40 +0000 Astronomers have found a 710-metre-wide asteroid that spins once every 1.9 minutes, so fast that it should have spun itself apart

Major leap towards reanimation after death as mammal's brain preserved Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:19:43 +0000 A pig's brain has been frozen with its cellular activity locked in place and minimal damage. Some believe the same could be done with the brains of people with a terminal illness, so their mind can be reconstructed and they can "continue with their life"

Private company to land on asteroid Apophis as it flies close to Earth Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:52:28 +0000 Apophis will be visited by multiple spacecraft – including landers – when it skims past Earth in three years

A negative attitude towards ageing is making you age faster Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:00:58 +0000 We know that a person’s outlook can have a huge effect on their health, and it’s no different when it comes to ageing. Columnist Graham Lawton looks at new evidence of just how powerful our attitude is – and how to use it to age better

New Scientist recommends Cirque du Soleil's insect-themed OVO show Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

How worried should you be about ultra-processed foods? Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:05 +0000 We are constantly told to watch out for the health risks of eating ultra-processed food, but should you be worried every time you sit down for a meal? Sam Wong takes a look at the evidence

Mathematician wins 2026 Abel prize for solving 60-year-old mystery Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:00:15 +0000 Gerd Faltings shocked mathematicians around the world for his 1983 proof of the Mordell conjecture, which brought together seemingly disparate mathematical fields

Captivating space images show how it has inspired us through the ages Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 An upcoming book from presenter and author Dallas Campbell collects both iconic and lesser-known images of space, from illustration to photography

Rebecca Solnit: 'The great majority of people want climate action' Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Climate activist and author Rebecca Solnit tells Rowan Hooper why she still has hope, even in these "catastrophic" times

Probiotic cream that ramps up heat production could prevent frostbite Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:07:41 +0000 Tweaking our skin's microbiome via a probiotic cream could prevent frostbite and hypothermia in extreme environments

Physicists create formula for how many times you can fold a crêpe Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:33 +0000 When you fold a flexible material such as a pancake or a tortilla, its behaviour depends on a competition between gravity and elasticity

Fluorescent ruby-like gems have been found on Mars for the first time Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:00:06 +0000 The Perseverance rover has found tiny crystals that seem to be rubies or sapphires inside pebbles on Mars, where they have never been seen before

It's time to monetise the moon! Definitely! Maybe? Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Feedback discovers an accounting firm has unveiled its latest "lunar market assessment", which predicts huge profits to be had. Suit up, lunar entrepreneurs!

Maggie Aderin's dream: To walk by the footprints of Neil Armstrong Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:44 +0000 Space scientist Maggie Aderin talks telescopes, neurodiversity and being underestimated with Rowan Hooper on the New Scientist podcast, as her memoir Starchild comes out

Boosting the blood-brain barrier could avert brain damage in athletes Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:24 +0000 The neurodegenerative condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy appears to be driven by damage to the blood-brain barrier due to repetitive head injuries, like those that occur in boxing. This suggests that drugs that strengthen this barrier could prevent or slow the condition

Neanderthals may have treated wounds with antibiotic sticky tar Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:15 +0000 Tar made from birch tree bark is commonly found at Neanderthal sites, and experiments show that it kills some bacteria that cause skin infections

Will war in the Middle East accelerate the clean energy transition? Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:28:28 +0000 Disruption to shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has led to a spike in oil and natural gas prices, which could spur countries to boost the roll-out of renewable energy and electric vehicles

The mystery of how volcanic lightning happens has been solved Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:00:44 +0000 When particles in volcanic ash cloud rub together, some pick up positive charge and others negative – now physicists have finally elucidated how these different charges are determined

Ice core reveals low CO2 during warm spell 3 million years ago Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:00:12 +0000 For the first time, scientists have measured atmospheric gases from the late Pliocene, yielding data that could help to predict the future climate

Psychedelics may be no better than antidepressants for depression Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:00:18 +0000 Drugs like psilocybin that induce psychedelic effects have shown promise for treating depression. Now, a review of the evidence suggests that they are effective, but no more so than traditional antidepressants

Route-planning AI cut climate-warming contrails on over 100 flights Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:41:51 +0000 A weather-forecasting AI was used to recommend routes for American Airlines flights between the US and Europe to reduce the formation of contrails, which contribute to global warming

Particle discovered at CERN solves a 20-year-old mystery Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:32 +0000 Physicists working on the LHCb experiment have spotted an elusive and fleeting particle, a heavier and more charming cousin to the proton, that has been sought for decades

Social media is a defective product Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:21:37 +0000 Two lawsuits are being brought against giant tech firms for the dangers their apps pose to young people. Columnist Annalee Newitz says the outcome of those cases could dramatically change social media for the better

Your partner probably wakes you up at night without you even realising Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:40 +0000 People who share a bed with a partner are woken by them multiple times per night, but don’t remember most of these disturbances

The ancient Goths were an ethnically diverse group Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:54 +0000 Ancient DNA reveals that the Goths of eastern Europe, some of whom would ultimately sack the city of Rome, may have been a mix of peoples from three continents

3I/ATLAS: Interstellar comet has water unlike any in our solar system Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:00:42 +0000 The levels of a heavy form of hydrogen in 3I/ATLAS are 30 to 40 times higher than in Earth's oceans, suggesting the comet has a cold and distant origin

The asteroid Ryugu has all of the main ingredients for life Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:00:10 +0000 All five of the canonical nucleobases – the underpinnings of DNA, RNA and life on Earth – have been found in samples from the asteroid Ryugu